The owner of Iron Saddle Ranch Roy Landers discusses his desire to get a liquor license with Marion County Board and Liquor Commissioner Debbie Smith at a Liquor Committee meeting Monday night. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Marion County Board Chair and County Liquor Commissioner Debbie Smith thinks the best way to solve the question if Salem Township is wet or dry is to have a referendum.
Her comments came at a Liquor Commission meeting Monday night when the owner of the Iron Saddle Ranch Roy Landers asked for a license. Smith says the request has been held up since January as a search was conducted to determine if there was ever a vote to make the township wet.
“The prior Township Supervisor who was there I would say over three decades contends it’s a dry township. What the Township really needs to do is should put it on the referendum for the residents to vote on…either keep it dry or make it wet. That is really what they need to do.”
Smith encouraged Landers to contact the Salem Township Supervisor to try and get the issue on the April ballot as only a few weeks remain before the ballot closes.
Smith noted the county’s new State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth had told her even if they issued a liquor license if the township is dry they would not be allowed to serve liquor.
The committee voted to authorize a liquor license for the Iron Saddle Ranch once the wet-dry issue is resolved and preserve one of the two open licenses for the business.
